Manual for Trainers of 1 A Prayer for Communion Ministers Heavenly Father, You brought us into a new and intimate relationship with you through your son, Jesus, who tells us: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” As Ministers of Holy Communion, help us to treat others as we would treat Jesus. Let us welcome and serve one another with all the radical kindness, respect, and generosity that we would offer to Christ himself. Through the gift of the Holy Eucharist, continue to feed and nourish our souls. In the example of Jesus, may we share the gift of Christ’s precious Body and Blood with reverence. May we become worthy servants and friends to one another through our ministry. In your holy name we pray, Amen. 1 Goal 1: Communion ministers understand their role as lay ministers and servant leaders in the Church. Learning Outcome 1.1: The Second Vatican Council catalyzed a transformation of the Church with renewed emphasis of the unity of all the People of God. All lay ministries were born of this transformation. By virtue of their baptism, all Christians are equally called to holiness according to their gifts. Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy is the major liturgical document of Vatican II, which called for all the faithful to be full, conscious, and active participants in the liturgy. Each person at Mass has a role according to their gifts – the assembly itself is a ministry with an important role. Learning Outcome 1.2: Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs) are called forth from their parish communities to serve in this ministry because of their particular gifts. EMHCs demonstrate a reverence for the Eucharist EMHCs possess faith maturity and are good models of Christian life EMHCs demonstrate hospitality to all EMHCs demonstrate humility and gratitude Goal 2: Communion ministers will know the foundational principles of Eucharistic theology and can articulate what is meant by “the Body of Christ.” Learning Outcome 2.1: Catholics believe in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist; for this reason we treat the Eucharistic elements with utmost reverence. EMHCs know the basic elements of the Eucharistic Prayer and Communion Rite of the Mass. EMHCs understand the doctrine of concomitance: Christ is fully present – Body, Blood, and divinity – in the each of the Eucharistic elements, and in each piece or drop, no matter how small. EMHCs know how to deal with accidents (drops or spills) efficiently and reverently. 2 Learning Outcome 2.2: The “Body of Christ” refers both to the consecrated elements and to us – the Body of Christ – one Church united. Each person is a tabernacle of the living God. Christ is present in each person just as he is present in the Eucharistic elements. Transformation is both specific (bread and wine) and corporate (all of us). Goal 3: Communion ministers have the practical skills necessary to perform their ministry in a variety of contexts. Learning Outcome 3.1: EMCHs know how to receive and distribute communion properly. EMHCs know the proper gestures and dialogue for reception of communion. EMHCs know how to distribute on the tongue or in the hand. EMHCs understand the difference between reception of the sacrament and the consumption of remaining hosts or Precious Blood. EMHCs know how to distribute communion to the sick and homebound if needed. Learning Outcome 3.2: EMHCs understand Church and diocesan regulations regarding distribution of Holy Communion. Communion is distributed from that consecrated at the same Mass (i.e. not from the tabernacle) Ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are used first, then EMHCs as needed. EMHCs do not perform dual ministries at the same Mass, if at all possible. EMHCs know the difference between purification of vessels and washing the vessels; purification is done by ordained ministers only. Learning Outcome 3.3: EMHCs can respond to a variety of special situations regarding distribution of Holy Communion. EMHCs know how to handle non-communicants in the communion line (blessings for non-communicants are discouraged). EMHCs know how to handle a shortage or surplus of sacred Hosts / Precious Blood. EMHCs understand that the communion line is not the place for catechesis. They understand it is not their responsibility to police the reception of communion. They understand that it is their responsibility to report unusual or troubling instances to the pastor. EMHCs know what resources are available to them if they have questions or concerns. 3 Foundations of Ministry LUMEN GENTIUM (1964) What was our manner of participating in Mass before Vatican II? “These faithful are by baptism made What was the role of the people of God? one body with Christ and are constituted among the People of God; they are in their own way made sharers in the priestly, prophetical, The Second Vatican Council marked a major and kingly functions of Christ; and shift in in the history of the Church, they carry out for their own part the mission of the whole Christian transforming it from an institution where people in the Church and in the clerics did much of the work of the Church to world.” (#31) the Church being a sign of unity of all her people. Two important documents of Vatican “The holy people of God shares also II help explain this shift and our emerging role in Christ's prophetic office; it spreads abroad a living witness to Him, as lay liturgical ministers. These could be especially by means of a life of faith considered “charter documents” for all lay and charity.”(#12) liturgical ministries, including communion ministry. “The Spirit distributes special grace among the faithful of every rank. By Lumen Gentium (1964) these gifts the Spirit makes them fit and ready to undertake the various expands the idea of “the People of God” tasks or offices advantageous for the renewal and upbuilding of the to include all the faithful, stressing the Church.” (#11-12) equality of all Christians because of their common baptism. “And if by the will of Christ, some are We share in the work of the Church made teachers, dispensers of mystery, and shepherds on behalf of because of our baptism. others, yet all share a true equality with regard to the dignity and to the “universal call to holiness” activity common to all the faithful for the building up of the Body of Christ.” (#32) 4 Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963) Mass is a public celebration for SACROSANCTUM everyone present and indeed the CONCILIUM (1963) whole universal Church, not just for a “Liturgical functions are not select few. private functions but are Everyone has a role to play in liturgical celebrations of the Church which is ‘the sacrament of celebrations. unity’ … therefore, liturgical The Church has a responsibility to services pertain to the whole Body of the Church.” (#26) recognize the roles of the People of God, and the people have a “Rites which are meant to be responsibility to embrace those roles celebrated in common, with the faithful present and actively according to their gifts. participating, should as far as Liturgy is not to be viewed as possible be celebrated in that way rather than by an entertainment for “silent spectators.” individual and quasi-privately.” (#27) “The church earnestly desires The word “LITURGY” roughly translates to “the work that all the faithful be led to of the people” – from the Greek leitos (“public”) and that full, conscious, active ergos (“work”) participation in liturgical celebrations called for by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people’ is their right and their duty by reason of their baptism. In the reform and promotion of the liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else.” (#14) 5 Summary: The Second Vatican Council sparked the transformation of the Church from an institution of clerics into a sign of the unity of all the People of God. All lay ministries were born of this transformation. By virtue of their baptism, all Christians are equally called to holiness according to their gifts. Baptism gives us rights and responsibilities. All the faithful are called to be full, conscious, and active participants in the liturgy. Each person at Mass has a role according to their gifts, and all are important. Discussion Questions: What is your experience of the Second Vatican Council (either lived experience or historical understanding)? What would you like to know more about? What challenge does the Church’s “universal call to holiness” place before you? 6 Qualifications What the Church says (emphases added): Fidei Custos (1969) “A lay Christian who is to be chosen as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion should be outstanding in Christian life, in faith, and in morals, and one whose mature age warrants the choice and who is properly trained to carry out so exalted a function.” (#5) Immensae Caritatis (1974) “The faithful who are [Extraordinary] Ministers of Communion must be persons whose good qualities of Christian life, faith and morals recommend them. Let them strive to be worthy of this great office, foster their own devotion to the Eucharist and show an example to the rest of the faithful by their own devotion and reverence toward the most august sacrament of the altar.” (#6) Code of Canon Law (1983) “When the need of the Church warrants it and [ordinary] ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply certain of their duties, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside, offer liturgical prayers, to confer baptism, and to distribute Holy Communion, according to the prescripts of the law.” (§230.3) Ecclesiae de Mysterio (1997) “It is thus useful for the diocesan bishop to issue particular norms concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which, in complete harmony with the universal law of the Church, should regulate the exercise of this function in his diocese.